COVID-19 has put a pause on ordinary life for all Canadians. It can be hard to face the fact that we have to give up some of our freedoms and privileges to help reduce the spread.
While the government has been urging us to leave our homes only for essential tasks like grocery shopping, many people are longing for moving into a new home.
If you’re already in the process of moving, have sold your current place or terminated your lease, then your move is an essential task. After all, you need a home to be home.
How do you move homes when you’re being called to stay home and maintain social distance? This blog is a short guide to help you prepare for the move in the face of the COVID-19 situation. We hope you’ll use it to stay healthy and safe during the move.
TALK TO YOUR MOVING COMPANY
Instead of taking it on by yourself, discuss your options with a professional mover. If you’re afraid to invite crew members inside your home, make sure to establish a clear communication beforehand.
On the phone, ask the people who will be helping you if they know someone or have been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19. It can be hard to ask these questions. Try phrasing it in one of these ways:
- Have any of your crew members had any COVID-19 symptoms in the past two weeks?
- Does anyone in the crew know someone who has the virus?
- What health and safety precautions will your team take during the moving process?
Don’t be afraid to put health and safety first. If you keep communication open and ask the right questions, you’ll be in safe hands during your move.
SANITIZE YOUR STUFF
When you move, people will touch your belongings. It’s essential to keep them as sanitized as possible with disinfectant wipes or sprays. Whether you’re moving locally or long distance, pack items with care and make sure to seal them in boxes and bags. And clean each box before bringing it into your new place.
Here are some tips for keeping your things sanitized:
- Wrap furniture in plastic, then throw out plastic afterward.
- Wash your hands frequently!
- Encourage your movers to wash their hands often and offer paper towel for drying.
Also, use our moving checklist to make sure you pack all the things before you move.
MAINTAIN SAFE DISTANCES
Keep a safe distance of over 6 feet (around 2 meters) from your moving crew during the move, and make sure your family does the same. This advice applies to every situation, not just the moving process!
Ensuring safe distancing is the best we can all do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
DO PAPERWORK ELECTRONICALLY WHEN POSSIBLE
Request that your movers and realtors exchange paperwork electronically. Everything we usually do with physical contacts—signing papers, shaking hands, handling cash or credit cards—shouldn’t be happening anymore if we can help it. Your movers will likely have alternate safety measures in place if they use paper billing and are still accepting cash.
ENSURE YOUR FAMILY/FRIENDS ARE HEALTHY DURING THE MOVE
If anyone in your family or a close friend is medically compromised or at high risk, ask them to stay uninvolved in the moving process. This is to protect you, your loved ones, and your moving crew.
WHAT WE’RE DOING TO KEEP YOU SAFE DURING COVID-19
The team at Two Small Men with Big Hearts is staying calm and monitoring the health and safety of our employees and clients. It’s our top priority.
We are following the Canadian government’s recommendations and taking precautions to ensure we’re doing everything in our power to mitigate risks related to COVID-19.
Some of the precautions we’re taking:
- Sanitizing and washing our equipment and vehicles every day
- Sanitizing and washing door handles and interiors.
- Implementing and encouraging a safe social distancing policy.
- Postponing our staff volunteer program for now with respect to social distancing
Get in touch with our team to book your move.